Light weight sandal



Nov. 14,1967 c. COLLEY 3,352,033

LIGHT WEIGHT SANDAL 7 Filed Dec. 20, 1966 INVENTOR.

BAY/MONO C. (0H5? United States Patent 3,352,033 LIGHT WEIGHT SANDAL Raymond C. Colley, 5220 W. Irving St., Pasco, Wash. 99301 Filed Dec. 20, 1366, Ser. No. 603,324 Claims. (Cl. 3611.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure describes a lightweight shoe formed from a block 11 of polystyrene foam. Intersecting diagonal apertures 14 and 15 are formed in the block 11 extending from the toe section to the heel section. A strap 21 is drawn through the apertures 14 and 15 to form a continuous toe loop 22 with the ends 23 and 24 extending from the heel section for securing together about the ankle.

My invention relates to an article for wear and more particularly to a lightweight shoe that may be worn on the foot or under the sole of another shoe.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide an extremely lightweight shoe that is durable, longlasting and comfortable to wear while being economical to manufacture.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a lightweight shoe having a block of plastic foam with apertures formed therein to facilitate the attachment of the shoe to the foot by the use of only one strap.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lightweight shoe that does not require the additional manufacturing process of afi'ixing straps to the body of the shoe.

With these and other objects in mind, my invention contemplates a lightweight shoe made from a block of plastic foam such as polystyrene foam that conforms to the shape of the foot. The block has two crossing diagonal apertures formed therein extending from the toe area to the heel area. A strap is interwoven through the apertures to form a continuous loop extending transversely over the toe area with the ends of the straps extending from the heel area to be joined together about the ankle.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a lightweight shoe formed by a plastic foam block embodying the principal features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the side of a foot in phantom positioned on the block;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shoe showing a foot in phantom positioned on the shoe; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except it shows an alternate embodiment in which a cavity is formed in the block.

Referring in detail to the drawings FIG. 1 shows a lightweight shoe comprising a molded or shaped block or sole 11 made of plastic material such as polystyrene foam. The top surface of the block 11 is contoured to form a toe section 12 and a heel section 13 adapted to receive a foot.

Two crossing and intersecting diagonal apertures 14 and 15 are formed in the block 11. Aperture 14 extends from point 16 in the toe section to a point 17 in the heel section. Aperture 15 extends from a point 18 in the toe section to a point 19 in the heel section. As may be particularly seen in FIG. 2 that the apertures intersect in the arch area of the block 11.

A strap 21 is interwoven in the apertures 14 and 15 to form a continuous loop 22 transversely across the top of the toe section 12 to receive and secure the forward portion of the foot to the block 11. Ends 23 and 24 of the strap 21 extend diagonally through the apertures 14 and 15 emerging from the block at points 17 and 19. As may be particularly seen from FIG. 3 the ends 23 and 24 may be secured together about the ankle. FIG. 3 shows the ends being secured together by tying. Other ways of securing the ends of the strap together could be used, such as by a buckle arrangement.

A water impervious coating 25 is formed on the outside of the block 11 to resist the discoloring and water impregnation of the block 11.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 in which the block 11 has a cavity 27 formed therein to decrease the weight of the shoe 10. As is shown in FIG. 4 the straps extend through the cavity 27 from the toe section 12 to the heel section 13.

It is understood that the above described embodiments are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of my invention. Numerous other arrangements could be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of my invention and fall within the spirit and the scope thereof. Therefore, only the following claims are intended to define my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A light weight article of footwear comprising:

(a) plastic sole conforming generally to the shape of the foot and having an upper surface contoured to conform to the general outline of the bottom of the foot, said sole has two crossing diagonal elongated apertures formed the-rein that extend from the toe section in which each aperture has an opening in one side of the toe section of the sole and another opening in the opposite side of the heel section of the sole; and

(-b) a strap extending through the apertures and forming a continuous loop extending transversely over the toe section with the ends of the strap extending from the openings in the heel section to be joined about the ankle.

2. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein the diagonal apertures are intersecting.

3. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein the sole is made of a foam plastic material.

4. The article as defined in claim 1 further comprising a water impervious coating surrounding the sole.

5. The article as defined in claim 3 wherein the sole is made from polystyrene foam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,313 3/1936 Wilson 36-75 2,732,634 1/1956 Lipton 3611.5 2,744,340 5/1956 Gerber 3611.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,204,224 1/ 1960 France. 511,825 1/1955 Italy.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIGHT WEIGHT ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR COMPRISING; (A) PLASTIC SOLE CONFORMING GENERALLY TO THE SHAPE OF THE FOOT AND HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE CONTOURED TO CONFORM TO THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOT, SAID SOLE HAS TWO CROSSING DIAGONAL ELONGATED APERTURES FORMED THEREIN THAT EXTEND FROM THE TOE SECTION IN WHICH EACH APERTURE HAS AN OPENING IN ONE SIDE OF THE TOE SECTION OF THE SOLE AND ANOTHER OPENING IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HEEL SECTION OF THE SOLE; AND (B) A STRAP EXTENDING THROUGH THE APERTURES AND FORMING A CONTINUOUS LOOP EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OVER THE TOE SECTION WITH THE ENDS OF THE STRAP EXTENDING FROM THE OPENINGS IN THE HEEL SECTION TO BE JOINTED ABOUT THE ANKLE. 